New Yorkers walking to walk during the three-day transit strike.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The transit strike that crippled New York City's public transportation system for three days cost the city $1 billion, the New York City Comptroller's office estimated.

The figure reflects total losses from the strike, according to Jeff Simmons, spokesman for NYC Comptroller William Thompson. The strike was the first since an 11-day transit strike that hit the city in 1980.

Among the businesses most affected were retailers, restaurants and smaller specialty "mom and pop" stores, which typically see a big boost in their sales during the final week of the holiday shopping season.

Some industry experts estimate that the strike may have cost retailers about $250 million a day.

On Friday, buses and subways in New York City were on the move again after the executive board of the Transport Workers Union, which represents the city's 33,000 mass transit workers, ordered workers return to work.

Negotiations for a new contract with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority were set to continue.

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For more on the strike, click here.

N.Y. transit strike may cost retailers big time. Click here for more.